Synthetic hydroxyapatite
(HAp) has been successfully produced with
the aim of obtaining biomaterials that meet the biomechanical requirements for bone tissue engineering,
while being compatible with the surrounding biochemical and cellular
environment. Combining proteins with HAp can generate improved composite
biomaterials, which are environmentally friendly, renewable, and biocompatible.
In this context, HAp/protein-based composite materials have been widely
exploited since the late 20th century to the present day. In this
review, we explore the biomedical relevance of the association of
HAp with several proteins of interest such as fibroin, sericin, fibrin,
and keratin. The processing strategies for their synthesis and effect
on the obtained shape and physicochemical, mechanical, and biological
performance are herein discussed. This work can provide useful information
for the design of HAp-based biomaterials with specific emphasis on
bone tissue regeneration characteristics for biomedical applications.